[Leica] Do Blades Matter?

[Buzz Hausner <Buzz@marianmanor.org>]

Based on Steve's comments and my own observations regarding the spherical
and aspherical 35 Summicrons, I would be interested in learning the number
of diaphragm blades in the spherical and aspherical 35 Summiluxes.  I have
neither lens, can anybody out there help?

	Buzz

- -----Original Message-----
From: Steve LeHuray [mailto:icommag@toad.net]
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 8:32 AM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] Re: 35mm M Summicron ASPH lens-flare


> John...
> 
>  There are some very good reasons, in addition to savings, for buying
> the pre-aspheric 35 Summicron.  I own and use both the aspherical (second
> version) and spherical (vintage '86) lenses.  I use the spherical
expression
> more often.  This is because I value small, light equipment and an M6 with
> the spherical will easily slip into a jacket pocket.  I do not want to
> ignite a bokeh war, but I like the over-all look of the spherical better
for
> many pictures...perhaps this is because the spherical has a dozen
diaphragm
> blades and the aspherical two fewer, but the images are different to my
eye.
> Who knows?  Even at f2.0, the spherical is very sharp...sharper at least
> than my shaky hands deserve.  Don't get me wrong, the aspherical is a fine
> lens...certainly snappier than the spherical at f2.0.  Flare?  Flare is so
> rarely an issue that I don't worry about it unless I WANT to use flare as
an
> element of the photograph.
>
>  Nota bene, I am not a collector, just the father of two who will let
> my kids fight this battle for many years after I am gone.  My son and
> daughter will be posting their opinions on the two lenses in about twenty
> years.
>
>  Buzz Hausner

I am right there with you Buss. My poison of choice in a 35 is the pre-asph
Summilux 1.4. It is a tiny little thing which I like and to my eye it seems
to do very well wide open plus it has a smoother look at all apertures
compared to the asph version.

Steve
Annapolis